This is a fascinating piece of memorabilia. It is a 78 rpm record issued to commemorate Kaiser Wilhelm II’s 25th anniversary of his ascension to Germany’s throne. It comes encased in its own highly-decorated cardboard container, which is still totally intact 95 years after it was released! The record is probably made of glass or wax, rather than the vinyl of the later 20th Century (we are not 100% sure of its composition). Its surface is decorated with a high-relief portrait of Wilhelm II in the center of the album. The following words are printed (again in high-relief) around the album’s edge: “Zur Erinnerung an das Funfundzanzigjährige Regierungs-Jubiläum Seiner Majestat des Kaisers und Königs Wilhelm II – 1888-1913. (In Remembrance of the 25-year-Reign-Jubilee of Our Majesty of Kaisers and Kings Wilhelm 2nd ).” These same words encircle the cover of cardboard container. In the cover’s center is a framed picture of Kaiser Wilhelm II. A Hohenzollern Crown sits high above his portrait, and elaborate curtains swag down from it to drape dramatically on either side of the Kaiser’s picture. A small label below the picture announces “Grammophon-Orchester. M 040749 Jubel – Ouverture von C. M. Weber.” The latter is the music selection on the recording. The box is 12″ in diameter and approximately 1″ high. Someone has taped it together in the past. A removable, protective cardboard liner is still present inside. Another insert, this one made of metal, sits in the case’s lower half to help further protect the fragile recording. The recording’s non-decorative side displays a conventional record label, complete with the graphic of the dog listening to a gramophone. The recording information is again listed: composer, composition, recording number, etc., as well as more salutations to the Kaiser. This is a remarkable piece of Kaiserzeit memorabilia, in extremely good condition!

Description

This is a fascinating piece of memorabilia. It is a 78 rpm record issued to commemorate Kaiser Wilhelm II’s 25th anniversary of his ascension to Germany’s throne. It comes encased in its own highly-decorated cardboard container, which is still totally intact 95 years after it was released! The record is probably made of glass or wax, rather than the vinyl of the later 20th Century (we are not 100% sure of its composition). Its surface is decorated with a high-relief portrait of Wilhelm II in the center of the album. The following words are printed (again in high-relief) around the album’s edge: “Zur Erinnerung an das Funfundzanzigjährige Regierungs-Jubiläum Seiner Majestat des Kaisers und Königs Wilhelm II – 1888-1913. (In Remembrance of the 25-year-Reign-Jubilee of Our Majesty of Kaisers and Kings Wilhelm 2nd ).” These same words encircle the cover of cardboard container. In the cover’s center is a framed picture of Kaiser Wilhelm II. A Hohenzollern Crown sits high above his portrait, and elaborate curtains swag down from it to drape dramatically on either side of the Kaiser’s picture. A small label below the picture announces “Grammophon-Orchester. M 040749 Jubel – Ouverture von C. M. Weber.” The latter is the music selection on the recording. The box is 12″ in diameter and approximately 1″ high. Someone has taped it together in the past. A removable, protective cardboard liner is still present inside. Another insert, this one made of metal, sits in the case’s lower half to help further protect the fragile recording. The recording’s non-decorative side displays a conventional record label, complete with the graphic of the dog listening to a gramophone. The recording information is again listed: composer, composition, recording number, etc., as well as more salutations to the Kaiser. This is a remarkable piece of Kaiserzeit memorabilia, in extremely good condition!

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PATRIOTIC PIECE – FULL-COLOR GLASS – KAISER WILHELM I

SKU: 20-297

$75.00

I have examined this item for several minutes trying to categorize it for you. The best that I have come up with it is that it is a patriotic display item commemorating Germany’s first Kaiser, Wilhelm I (1797-1888). In addition to being Kaiser, he was also Prussia’s King from 1861 until his death in 1888. He assumed Prussia’s throne in 1861 when his older brother König Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1795-1861) died. Wilhelm IV was paralyzed and mentally incapacitated by a stroke in 1857. In 1858 Wilhelm I assumed the position of Regent for his older brother and remained in this position until the King’s death in 1861. He continued his brother’s policy of German unification, which was largely completed with the conclusion of the 1866 Austro-Prussian War. Through all this and for the balance of his rule until his 1888 death, his closest advisor and political ally was none other than the “Iron Chancellor,” Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898). While Wilhelm I remained King of Prussia, the other German states deferred to Prussian rule. After the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War’s end, he was formally recognized as Emperor of Germany, as well as King of Prussia. Wilhelm I remained the political and moral head of Germany, and was much beloved by his people. Upon his death in March 1888, he was succeeded for ninety-nine days by his son, Germany’s second Kaiser, Friedrich III. Friedrich III was in ill health and died of cancer in June 1888. The third and final Kaiser of Germany, Friedrich III’s son and Wilhelm I’s grandson was Wilhelm II. He ruled Germany from June 1888 until November 1918. As a part of the German surrender following WW I’s end, Wilhelm II agreed to exile in the Netherlands. The House of Hohenzollern, which extended back to Frederick the Great’s time, no longer ruled Germany. Returning to our offering, we have a circular piece that measures 1 1/2″ in diameter. Its gold-toned frame might be brass, or some other non magnetic material. What I believe is a glass panel is inside the frame. A full color likeness of Kaiser Wilhelm I is painted on the panel. He is wearing a full dress uniform complete with a generalfeldmarschall’s epaulettes. On the uniform we see a large medal bar with numerous decorations. He is also wearing the Goldene Kette of the Order of the Black Eagle. The Kette was a large and elaborate collar or oversized neck device. It was made of gold and placed over his neck. It hung down making a very impressive device that was the ultimate expression of being a House of Hohenzollern Prince. Princes were invested with it, and it could only be worn by a born-of-the-blood Prince on state occasions. Certain decorations from the “Black Eagle” decoration family were awarded to very favored individuals at the pleasure of the House of Hohenzollern’s head member. The Black Eagle was proximately displayed on general officers’ headdresses and was a central theme of the headdresses of officers, NCO’s, and enlisted men from the various Garde-Regiments, General Staff, etc. Also on Wilhelm I’s neck in this presentation is the Orden Pour le Mérite. This patriotic item is two-sided so the image may be seen on both sides. The image is somewhat faded and less than what it looked like when it was created more than one-hundred-years ago. Scratches and discoloration of the glass itself are evident. The entire feel is that it shows honest age. I have not seen anything quite like this. Other than being a patriotic piece, I do not know how to explain it. One might also think of it as table medal, but even that is not a correct assessment.

LARGE HAND CARVED HAPSBURG EAGLE

SKU: 26-62

$2,495.00

Today we are offering a massive, truly magnificent, artistically hand carved wooden Hapsburg Eagle. It has been years since we have offered a sophisticated example of German Imperial Period woodcarving. Without a doubt, this is one of the finest we have ever offered. During the Imperial Period, most of Europe’s finest hand woodcarving came from Germany and Austria. [The tradition is still practiced today primarily in Southern Germany (the Black Forest and Bavaria) and Northern Austria (the Tyrol)]. I cannot say with certainty whether our example originated in Austria or Germany, although it was done to commemorate Austria’s Hapsburg Empire. I date this fine example from 1875 up through 1918, when the Great War’s end resulted in the demise of Germany and Austria’s empires.
The stunning Eagle measures 2″ x 21″ x 26,” and weighs a whopping 8 lbs. 4 oz. The carving is quite intricate, with exquisite detailing to its various feathers. The top crown has movement in it forwards and backwards, almost as though it is articulated. In the center of the Eagle’s chest is a glass-covered frame that measures 4 ½” x 6″ x 2,” and features a cabinet photograph of Kaiser Franz Josef of Austria with a reproduction signature.
The reverse features three metal rings that form its hanger system. A very old cord is strung between them that once served as the actual hanger so it could be hung on a wall. I have waited many years for a large and exceptional carving to come along. It would handsomely set off a large wall in your home. [Additional shipping will be required for this item due to its weight and size].

Over the years I have tried to bring you many different types of royalty items. While I have offered many items from Kaiser Wilhelm II and other key members of German royalty, I have always had a soft place in my heart for Prinz Alfons of Bavaria. I will not task you here with his history, since it is well-chronicled elsewhere on this website. I will say that Prinz Alfons served as regimental chef to several regiments. Today we are offering a unique urkunde (award document). This document was issued to Prinz Alfons in September 1924. The document made him the honorary Ehrenpräsident (President) of the Artillerie-Vereinigung des Bezirks Dillingen. As I understand it, this was a veteran’s organization for former members of Artillerie-Regiments. I cannot stress too strongly this urkunde’s exquisite beauty. The document (actually, two documents) is housed in a sumptuous, dark-blue leather folio. The folio measures 13 1/2″ x 10 1/4.” The folio’s front is trimmed and embellished in gold. Pasted onto its center is a hand painted, full-color profile of a cannon, with its barrel elevated and ready to fire. Some shells are stacked around it. The cannon’s image is enclosed within a hand-painted border of blue and gold, embellished with blue oak and laurel leaves. Stylized “nails” decorate the four corners in Bavaria’s and Germany’s national colors. The small painting is then set within a gold-trimmed frame on the folio’s front. As one opens the folio, the two parts of the document are revealed. Each part is made of a high-quality velum. The left-hand document measures 13″ x 9 1/2.” The first thing that appears is a hand painted or a water-colored image of a watch tower within a small city. Below that, in the most beautiful calligraphy, is the first part of the award document. It has been executed in black ink. Below that in regal red is the name “S. K. H. Prinz Alfons v. Bayern.” Not only is it done in red ink, but each of the letters is painstakingly trimmed in gold. This portion of the document is dated 28 September 1924. The right-hand document displays another hand painted or water-colored image, this one of a castle in the moonlight. Beneath the picture the urkunde’s text continues in black ink. Prinz Alfons and his title of Ehrenpräsident are again listed in red ink trimmed with gold. This side of the document is dated 21 December 1924. It bears the signatures of several officials of either the group and/or the city. Finally, a black rubber stamp has been applied that shows the organization’s name. For being nearly eighty-five-years-old, the leather folio and the two documents are in amazing condition. Even if documents are not your primary interest, please take a few moments to look at the attached photos and see the quality and workmanship that went into this set.

About Us

I'm Kenneth (Ken) J. Greenfield, currently of New Port Richey, Florida, located on the West Coast of Florida in the Tampa Bay area. I started out as a collector of Imperial German Militaria, particularly items dealing with the Imperial German Air Service in the early 1960's. After more than forty years of avid collecting, I began to sell a few items to upgrade my collection and help finance my collecting "habit." I attended militaria shows, both to buy and sell. I wanted to spend more time at home and less traveling for the national companies that I had worked for; so, starting my own business seemed like an attractive alternative. I like nothing better than talking with others about militaria, and introducing newcomers to the joys of owning a "piece of history."